Choose a blog

What to Watch on Tuesday: Melrose Place-90210 doubleheader

90210 (8pm, The CW) - Second season premiere has Annie still coping with the aftermath of her accident from last season. 

Melrose Place (9pm, The CW) - This much-anticipated remake of the legendary 90s soap is an homage to its predecessor, but it's also a bit more sophisticated. The writers will instill a sense of "anything can happen," so don't get too attached to any of the characters. There's a death in the first ten minutes of the premiere, and the rest of the season will revolve around solving the murder. Check back here on Wednesday for a recap.

Shaq vs. (9pm, ABC) - Tonight, Shaq puts on the gloves to fight Oscar De La Hoya. There will have to be some major restrictions on this fight to keep even an untrained Shaq from killing De La Hoya, since Shaq is more than a foot taller and twice the weight of the champion boxer.

Sons of Anarchy (10pm, FX) - Season two premieres tonight. Adam Arkin and Henry Rollins join the cast.

Flipping Out (10pm, Bravo) - Jeff hires a convict to replace weepy Rachel, who mercifully quit last week, saving Jeff the trouble of firing her behind. Why did he hire the ex-con? From viewing the previews I will venture that it was because he is pretty. It doesn't exactly work out.

What to Watch on Thursday: Happy Trails for Jordan Lloyd?

Big Brother (8pm, CBS) - We could be singing "Happy Trails" to Matthews, N.C.'s own Jordan Lloyd tonight. She's up for eviction and things are looking dicey for her. Tune in tonight to see how America votes.

Ace of Cakes (10pm, TLC) - A bride and groom both order surprise cakes for each other on the day of their wedding rehearsal. It's a win-win for rehearsal guests. Also, Elena makes a cake shaped like a human torso for a medical grad student.

Real Housewives of Atlanta (10pm, Bravo) - Kim gets a new nanny, hopefully one who won't tell Kim's children that they are going to hell. Then she tries to make amends with Lisa (next up - peace in the Middle East). NeNe goes full diva directing a RHoA photo shoot, and Kandi cancels her engagement party because of a family tragedy (please don't be Uncle Bebow!).

Flipping Out: On pajama parties and brown salsa

The teaser for Tuesday night's "Flipping Out" originally made me think Jeff's new part-time assistant Rachel would be getting the boot. I half-joked in What to Watch that she might get fired for forgetting to get the guacamole for Jeff's El Pollo Loco lunch (the straw that broke Assistant Chris's back in Season 2).

Well, Rachel did not get fired (yet) but there was an eerily similar incident last night involving a lunchtime shortage of brown salsa that has one of her post-it note-loving feet firmly in the unemployment line.

As Jeff might ask, "What have we learned here?"

What to Watch on Wednesday: Behold the Top Chef antihero

Leverage (9pm, TNT) - TNT ordered two extra episodes of this drama for their summer season, so you'll get your "Leverage" fix until September 9. Griffin Dunne and Will Wheaton guest star tonight and the episode is directed by Dean Devlin, the show's producer.

Criss Angel: Mindfreak (10pm, A&E) - Criss Angel tries to raise an entire crowd in a mass levitation in Las Vegas, plus he'll raise you right at home. Through the TV. Right off the ground.

Top Chef: Las Vegas (10pm, Bravo) - It's too early to pick a clear favorite, but last week's premiere was enough to tell us that we are definitely not pulling for Michael Isabella (right), an obnoxious Jersey boy working out of D.C.  Self-confidence is not a problem for this guy, but chauvinism is. The show has some extremely talented (and interesting) chefs this season, including competing brothers from Maryland and Ron Duprat, who spent 27 days at sea traveling from Haiti to the U.S. Last week, Ron didn't seem to understand the meaning of the word "vice," but he cooks a mean sea bass. Tonight, the men are pitted against the women, as the groups vie to cater a poolside bachelor-and-bachelorette party. Chef Todd English is the guest judge.

What to Watch on Tuesday: Flipped out for Jeff Lewis

Shaq vs. (9pm, ABC) - This time Shaq takes on Olympic volleyball players Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh. Shaq gets to partner with mens champ Todd Rogers. Also, Serena Williams counsels Shaq on the psyche of female athletes.

Flipping Out (10pm, Bravo) - I'll admit I've totally flipped out for this show and its OCD house-flipping star Jeff Lewis (right). Tonight, Jeff's professional growth-slash-desperation shows as he bends to a new client's whim and attends a meeting in his pajamas. Also, Jeff has a huge blowout with his business partner Ryan, and yet another assistant bites the dust. Can't wait to see if it's because she called the wrong "Chris" or if she forgot to get the guac at El Pollo Loco (the latter is a fireable offense).

Hell's Kitchen (8pm, Fox) - Dinner service is marred by repeated mistakes and a bossy teammate. This is the description of every episode of "Hell's Kitchen." My question is, can any of these people actually cook? They've been fouling up the same dishes over and over for weeks now.

What to Watch on Monday: Kevin Bacon directs "The Closer"

The Closer (9pm, TNT) - There's a female mutant ninja murderer on the loose, and a detective visits from El Paso to assist Brenda and the gang with the investigation. Also, Brenda's father arrives to escort Charlie (Sosie Bacon) home to Atlanta. The episode is directed by Kevin Bacon. No degrees of separation.

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (9pm, NBC) - Goldblum up! To solve a murder, Nichols and Wheeler dive into the dangerous world of one of the most violent, terrifying groups in our society: Poets.

Hoarders (10pm, A&E) - This show is so hard to watch. But so unbelievably fascinating. Not sure if they can top last week's woman from Milwaukee who hoarded rotten food.

The Rachel Zoe Project (10pm, Bravo) - The second season of celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe's reality show begins in grand fashion, as Zoe and her bratty desk-obsessed assistants (Jeff Lewis would so fire them) are charged with dressing Cameron Diaz, Anne Hathaway, Demi Moore, Eva Mendes, and Debra Messing for the Golden Globes. Glitch! Turns out the bad economy gets in the way of rich movie stars acquiring the most haute of haute couture gowns. Boo. Hoo.  

What to Watch on Thursday: Nicole Kidman on "Project Runway"

Into the Pride (8pm, Animal Planet) - Ten weeks into his stay with the pride of "problem lions" at Namibia's Erindi Private Game Reserve, Dave Salmoni is troubled by his lack of progress with Cleo (left), the queen of the pride, who only wants Dave to disappear. If you know what I mean.

Real Housewives of Atlanta (9pm, Bravo) - First we get the "director's cut" of last week's "Unbeweavable" episode in which Sheree tried to "shift" Kim's wig. Not sure exactly what that means. Extra fight footage? Then in a new episode at 10pm, Sheree attends a bodybuilding event and Kim has some nanny drama when she finds out her kids have been left unattended. All of which begs the question: Why does a woman without a job need a nanny? 

Project Runway: All-Star Challenge (8pm, Lifetime) - Before the official start of the new season (which begins at 10pm), eight designers from previous seasons compete for a $100,000 prize. Nicole Kidman makes a cameo appearance, setting up a challenge for the eight contestants. In the 10pm Project Runway season six premiere, 16 fresh hopefuls are introduced and begin their competition. Series regulars Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia return. The show, which previously aired on Bravo and was based in New York City, is now based in Los Angeles.

What to Watch on Tuesday: It's Shaq vs. the World

Shaq Vs. (9pm, ABC) - NBA star Shaquille O'Neal steps away from the basketball court to challenge other athletes in their chosen sport. Tonight Shaq trains with the Pittsburgh Steelers and then takes on QB Ben Roethlisberger. The challenge culminates with each man leading a team in a 7-on-7 game. Later in the series, Shaq will take on Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, Oscar De La Hoya, and others.

The Cleaner (10pm, TNT) - A self-help guru asks for William's help when her drug addicted son disappears. When William's team finds the young man, they discover he also suffers from gender dysphoria. 

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (10pm, HBO) - The must see interview with Nick Schuyler, the only survivor in the boating accident which claimed the lives of former NCSU football star Corey Smith, and NFL players Marquis Cooper and Will Bleakley

Flipping Out (10pm, Bravo) - Our favorite obsessive-compulsive house flipper Jeff Lewis returns tonight for his third season on Bravo. Since the housing market has tanked,  Jeff can't flip houses so he's resorted to decorating. But don't worry. Just because he's not flipping doesn't mean he's not flipping out.

What to Watch on Monday: "Jon & Kate" won't leave Wilmington

Flipping Out (2pm & 10pm, Bravo) - We're treated to a mini-marathon of five episodes from season 2 of the highly-addictive reality show featuring obsessive-compulsive house flipper Jeff Lewis. Do yourself a favor and record these now. If you miss them, three of these eps air Tuesday starting at 11am. The 3rd season starts tonight at 10pm if you believe Bravo's website, or Tuesday night if you believe Time Warner's onscreen programming guide. Be ready, either way. UPDATE: Bravo has now changed their website to say TUESDAY night at 10pm...

The Closer (9pm, TNT) - Brenda and her team investigate a shooting in a school parking lot. Her niece, who is firmly on Fritz's bad side after the pot brownie episode last week, is right in the middle of the trouble. Also, there's a big change in Provenza's life. As long as the dapper detective (played by G.W. Bailey, left) isn't retiring, I'm cool with whatever he wants to do.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 (9pm, TLC) - Geez, they're squeezing that North Carolina vacation dry. Even though chronologically the family returned to Pennsylvania in last week's episode, tonight Kate and the 6 littlest ones tour the USS NC Battleship in Wilmington, and then the boys get haircuts.

Hoarders (10pm, A&E) - A  new series focusing on people with compulsive-hoarding disorder. The first episode features a mother and father and three children who live amongst piles of clothing, food, and miscellaneous junk. 

Making His Band (10pm, MTV) - Tonight the contestants are divided into groups to compete for judges. Root for Wilson NC's Jamereo Artis (right).

 

What to Watch on Thursday: 'Into the Pride' tries to save problem lions

Into the Pride (8pm, Animal Planet) - Dave Salmoni lives with a rogue, aggressive pride of "problem lions" in Nambia in hopes of saving them from elimination. Because of eco-tourism in the area, if the lions can't be calmed down, they will be destroyed. There's a second episode at 9pm in which Salmoni stands up to Brutus, the pride's dominant male cat. I know Salmoni is still alive because I saw him on the "Today" show Wednesday. But even knowing he's alive, the footage of him facing down a charging Brutus with only a wooden staff for protection is heart-stopping.

Royal Pains (10pm, USA) - Andrew McCarthy is back as Tucker's dad, who decides to undergo a rapid detox system to kick his drug habit, even though Hank tells him the idea is dangerous. That means Hank will have to save his life with a garden hose and a ball point pen before the episode ends.

Real Housewives of Atlanta (10pm, Bravo) - Tonight, Bravo tells us that we see the "fallout" from Kim's meeting last week with NeNe and Sheree. This is the episode where Sheree, who apparently does not care that she has young children who will most likely watch these episodes one day, tries to pull off Kim's wig during an argument. 

Cars View All
Find a Car
Go
Jobs View All
Find a Job
Go
Homes View All
Find a Home
Go

Want to post a comment?

In order to join the conversation, you must be a member of newsobserver.com. Click here to register or to log in.
Advertisements